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Penelope was at the modiste’s, inspecting the final touches on her new dresses for the upcoming balls. She needed to find a husband soon, as she had no desire to continue living in her mother’s house.
She sought a husband who was kind and who would grant her the freedom she desired in exchange for providing him with heirs and managing his household.
Thanks to Colin, she had learned to be more direct and to shed some of her shyness. Even though they had been embroiled in a scandal that seemed to affect only her, life went on, and she continued her mission to find a husband. Deep down, she still harboured feelings for him. She thought she could forget him; that kiss had helped her close part of her heart, yet a piece of it would always belong to him. She knew that when she married, she and Colin would cease to be close friends, for a married woman maintaining contact with a single man was frowned upon.
“Miss Featherington?” Madam Delacroix’s voice called her.
Penelope snapped out of her thoughts and turned her attention to the modiste.
“What is it?” she asked, looking at her.
“I asked if you liked these fabrics,” Madam Delacroix replied, showing her a selection of greens, blues, and purples with innovative designs.
“Oh, yes, yes, of course,” Penelope answered with a smile.
They continued taking her measurements for the dresses, ensuring Penelope had enough to catch the eye of an eligible gentleman.
As it grew late, Madam Delacroix began closing her shop. Only Penelope, her maid—who kept a respectful distance—and Genevieve remained. The modiste poured some wine to share with Penelope.
“With these dresses and a bit of coquettish charm, I’m sure you’ll find the right man, Penelope,” Genevieve said, handing her a glass.
“I hope so,” Penelope replied, accepting the glass and taking a sip.
Genevieve noticed the hesitation in Penelope’s gaze, her distracted expression. She recalled how Penelope had once confided in her about kissing Mr Colin Bridgerton. Genevieve knew how deeply Penelope had loved him, and she suspected that no matter whom she married, her heart would always belong to Colin.
“How is Mr Bridgerton?” Genevieve suddenly asked.
Penelope choked slightly on her wine. “Pardon?”
“I mean, do you still keep in touch with him?”
“I… yes, we spoke under the willow tree once. I told him that the kiss… was a mistake and wouldn’t happen again,” Penelope explained.
“You said that?” Genevieve’s eyes widened.
“Yes?” Penelope replied, puzzled.
“Oh, my dear,” Genevieve laughed. “Never call a kiss a mistake, especially if there are feelings involved!”
Penelope laughed as well. “The only feelings involved are mine. Colin Bridgerton would never feel that way about me.”
“Is that so?” Genevieve smirked. “Didn’t you say he first gave you a small kiss, then came back for more?”
“Well, yes, but that was because I asked him to kiss me,” Penelope replied, shrugging.
Genevieve chuckled. “How can someone so intelligent be so blind?”
“Then why don’t we try something?” Genevieve suggested with a mischievous grin.
“What exactly?” Penelope asked, intrigued.
“Make him jealous.”
“Jealous?” Penelope laughed. “That won’t work. Colin doesn’t think of me that way.”
“Let’s see about that. Didn’t you mention tomorrow’s ballooning event? Test my theory—flirt with someone in front of him or tell him you’re serious about another gentleman. Watch his reaction,” Genevieve challenged.
“This won’t work,” Penelope said, rolling her eyes. But seeing Genevieve’s determined expression, she relented. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
The following morning, Penelope prepared herself for the event, donning a striking blue gown designed by Genevieve that complemented her eyes. Her maid styled her hair elegantly, with curls framing her face. Penelope felt beautiful, and as she joined her family for breakfast, she resolved to prove to Genevieve that Colin felt nothing for her.
Later that evening, everyone had arrived at the balloon ascent. Penelope admired the decorations and was captivated by the view. A commotion behind her caught her attention. Without even turning, she knew who it was—the Bridgerton clan.
Spotting Colin, she seized the moment and made her way towards a nearby sweet tent. Discreetly glancing back, she noticed Colin watching her. With a subtle gesture, she beckoned him over. She saw him abruptly cut off Benedict, who had been talking to him, which made her chuckle slightly. Yet, she watched as he approached her, undeterred by anything else, and together they slipped inside the tent.
“Pretend you’re buying something so no one notices us,” she said quickly.
“Of course,” he replied, amused. “How have you been?” he asked.
“Splendid,” she answered, turning to face him. She noticed Colin’s gaze flick briefly to her neckline before he quickly redirected it to her eyes, a gesture that made her smile slightly; he looked nervous.
“Pen, I was—”
“Bridgerton.” A man’s voice interrupted from behind Colin.
They both turned to see the speaker. Penelope didn’t recognise him; she was certain she had never seen this man before.
“Wentworth,” Colin greeted stiffly. “I didn’t know you were in London.”
“Oh yes, I only arrived last night,” Lord Wentworth replied casually. “I heard about this event today and decided to come.” His gaze shifted to Penelope. “I see you’re in good company,” he added with a charming smile.
“Oh, yes, this is Penel—Miss Featherington,” Colin introduced her, his tone slightly tense.
“A pleasure, Miss Featherington,” Wentworth said, stepping forward to take her hand and pressing a kiss to it.
Penelope blushed lightly and tried to respond gracefully. “Welcome to London, my lord,” she said, glancing at Colin, who was clenching his jaw. She remembered Genevieve’s advice: Make him jealous.
“What brings you to London, Wentworth?” Colin asked, clearly attempting to redirect the conversation.
“Well, you spoke so highly of its beauty, I thought I’d see it for myself,” Wentworth replied. “But no description can compare to the real view,” he added, his eyes on Penelope. She turned an even deeper shade of red.
“I’ll leave you both to your conversation; I’d like a dessert,” Penelope interjected, hoping to escape.
“Oh, don’t deprive us of your company, Miss Featherington,” Wentworth said smoothly. “Wouldn’t you agree, Bridgerton?”
“If she wishes for a dessert, that’s what she’ll have,” Colin ground out. “In fact, Pen,” he said, turning to her, “I’ll escort you back to your mother.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she protested.
“I insist,” Colin replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. Reluctantly, she nodded.
“Goodbye, Lord Wentworth,” Penelope said as she prepared to leave. Wentworth took her hand again, pressing another kiss to it, and she saw Colin’s sharp glare in response.
“Let’s go, Penelope,” Colin said firmly.
Penelope purchased an éclair and left the tent with Colin by her side. She noticed how tense he had become. Could Genevieve be right? she wondered. Could Colin actually be… jealous? Lost in her thoughts, she was startled when Colin’s voice broke through.
“Don’t go near that man, Penelope,” he said.
“Excuse me?” she asked, looking at him in surprise.
“Wentworth. Don’t go near him,” Colin repeated, stopping to look directly at her.
“I don’t understand—”
“Just don’t, Penelope. Please,” he said with a seriousness in his eyes she couldn’t refuse. She nodded.
Colin walked her back to her mother and left.
Penelope’s suspicions about Colin’s jealousy grew stronger. Was Genevieve right? Could Colin feel something for her? She resolved to find out, no matter what it took, to see if the man she loved felt the same way.
Penelope was preparing for the ball that evening. She considered wearing a purple gown, while Rae enhanced her look with subtle makeup and applied a balm to highlight her lips. She wore a necklace that beautifully complemented her complexion, making her appearance utterly charming.
She left the house with her mother, as her sisters and their husbands were travelling separately. Upon arrival, she immediately noticed the crowd of young ladies gathered around Colin, clamouring for his attention, hoping he would ask them to dance, and attempting to flirt. Penelope rolled her eyes at the sight, a twinge of jealousy rising within her, and decided to head for a drink instead.
She reached for some lemonade and heard someone clear their throat behind her. Turning, she saw Lord Wentworth standing there, smiling warmly at her.
“Good evening, Miss Featherington,” he greeted her.
“Good evening, my lord,” she replied politely.
“It’s a splendid ball, don’t you think? The decorations and the overall atmosphere,” he remarked.
“Splendid indeed,” she agreed.
“I was wondering if you would grant me the honour of the next dance, Miss Featherington,” he asked, extending his hand to her.
Penelope hesitated, her gaze briefly falling on his outstretched hand. She remembered Colin’s warning: “Stay away from that man.” Her eyes shifted to Colin, who was watching them intently. Sensing an opportunity, she turned back to Lord Wentworth, who awaited her response.
“I would be delighted,” she replied, placing her hand in his.
They made their way to the dance floor, and as the music began, they started to dance. Out of the corner of her eye, Penelope noticed Colin’s piercing gaze following her every move. Meanwhile, Lord Wentworth was speaking, but Penelope could barely focus on his words, her attention lingering on Colin instead.
“Pardon me, my lord, I didn’t catch what you said,” she apologised with a small smile.
“I was asking what a lady does when she finds a man particularly dull,” he teased with a grin.
“I imagine she would inquire about his estates and discuss them for the rest of the evening, my lord,” Penelope quipped.
“You’re refreshingly honest, Miss Featherington. I like that,” he chuckled, and Penelope joined in his laughter. The dance ended, and they parted with a polite farewell. Lord Wentworth mentioned he hoped to see her in the park the following day, and Penelope nodded before stepping outside for some air.
After a few moments outdoors, she felt someone take hold of her arm. Frowning, she turned to see who it was and found herself face-to-face with Colin.
“Come with me,” he demanded.
“I’m perfectly fine here,” she replied, attempting to free herself from his grip.
“Come with me, Penelope,” he repeated, this time leading her towards a nearby room without giving her the chance to protest.
Once inside, Colin hurriedly shut the door to ensure privacy, then turned to face Penelope, who stood with her arms crossed, waiting for an explanation.
“What is the meaning of this?” she accused him.
“You promised me you wouldn’t go near Lord Wentworth, Penelope,” he said firmly.
“I made no such promise, Colin,” Penelope retorted, lifting her chin defiantly.
“You did! You nodded your head when I told you to stay away from him,” he pressed, stepping closer, causing Penelope to instinctively step back.
“Well, in any case, I didn’t approach him . He came to me ,” she said with a shrug. “He invited me to dance, and I had to accept.”
“You could have refused. You could have given him an excuse,” Colin countered.
“I couldn’t do that, Colin,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Besides, you seemed quite well accompanied yourself,” she added sharply.
“That has nothing to do with this!”
“Of course it does. I don’t see why you’re so upset about me speaking to him when you were busy flirting with everyone,” she shot back, glaring up at him.
“You shouldn’t have spoken to him, Penelope. You shouldn’t be near him.”
Penelope was growing tired of Colin’s attitude. “Oh, I see. I’m not allowed to talk to one gentleman, my attention must solely be on Colin Bridgerton, while he flirts with the entire assembly,” she said sarcastically, a bitter smile on her lips.
“I wasn’t flirting with them,” Colin defended himself, stepping closer to her.
“Oh no? Then what exactly was I watching?” Penelope retorted, stepping closer as well.
“They came to me, Penelope,” he insisted, and she laughed in disbelief. “What, are you jealous?” he asked
Fed up with the situation, Penelope decided to retaliate. “You forbid me from speaking to one man, yet you talk to any woman who approaches you. Am I supposed to stand idly by while you’re surrounded by them?” She moved even closer to him, her voice dripping with irony. “The real question here, Colin, is whether it’s you who’s jealous?”
They stared at each other, tension crackling in the air, until Colin broke the spell and kissed her. Penelope instinctively responded to his kiss. This wasn’t like the kiss they had shared in her family’s garden—it was hungry, desperate, seeking comfort and more.
Colin gripped her waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. Penelope let out a small moan at the strength of his hold, and he used the moment to slide his tongue into her mouth, kissing her even more passionately.
Penelope began to touch him with her hands, she touched his arms and his torso, she raised her hands to his neck and touched the back of his neck, caressing that area, she heard how Colin moaned and she smiled into the kiss.
Colin released her lips and began to descend down her throat, kissing parts of her neck and breathing in her aroma. Penelope moaned, looking for more and caressed the back of her neck more.
“So greedy,” he said. “Tell me, Penelope, would he make you feel like me?” He said between kisses as he descended on her collarbone.
Penelope didn't want to be the one to lose her sanity and wanted to fight back. “Mhm, maybe,” she responded. She heard how Colin grunted and placed his hands from her waist to her butt and squeezed it and she let out a gasp.
Colin looked at her smiling conceitedly and Penelope pulled him in for a wilder kiss. They kissed non-stop until they heard voices behind the door and they separated immediately. Colin made a sign for her to shut up and follow him.
Once the voices were gone, Penelope calmed down.
“Well that was tempting fate” said Penelope “we should go out separately so that no one notices” she turned to look at him
“I'm not done with you, Penelope,” said Colin, approaching her, he took her again by the waist and kissed her again with passion. Penelope was surprised at that moment but continued with that kiss. Colin instinctively lowered his hands towards her buttocks and carried her. So that they could both sit, he took her to the nearest chair without breaking that kiss, he sat down with her on his lap and separated from that kiss.
“Do you want this?” He asked her, looking at her warmly.
Penelope stared at him, clearly she loved him, but she was afraid that they would be found and she would be a ruined woman.
Colin noticed her hesitation and the fear she had in her eyes. "I love you Penelope, I want to make you my wife, and not just because of what I'm going to do to you, but I need you to tell me if you really want this because I won't be able to stop."
Penelope processed Colin's words, he loved her, he loved her as his wife, she did not want to respond with words, she wanted to respond with actions, she kissed him deeply and he responded with the kiss, this was a warm kiss.
“I love you Colin, I would be very proud to become your wife” she told him, separating from the kiss to look at him and tell him everything, Colin smiled at her and kissed her again, little by little the temperature began to rise and Colin began to lower his lips towards her breasts, Penelope turned her head back to give him more access
“God I need to see them” Colin said, Penelope wasted no time and tried to pull down her dress to give Colin the perfect view of her naked breasts, she enjoyed how much he was doing it on top of her clothes and wanted to know how it felt underneath.
Once her breasts were free Colin gaped at the sight.
“You are magnificent,” said the “may I?” He asked, looking at her with pleading eyes, Penelope released a small rose and ascended, Colin immediately began to kiss her breasts and listened to Penelope's small moans, noticing that he liked that, so he preferred to take her perfect breasts to his mouth, he did it with one and Penelope moaned loudly and instinctively covered her mouth with one hand while with the other she brought him closer to her chest.
Colin was like a hungry baby and he began to suck and with his other hand he began to caress Penelope's free breast.
“Oh Colin… yes… god…” he heard Penelope's moans making him harder. Penelope, who was in his lap, began to squirm before him. Colin moaned and knew that she wanted something more.
“Pen… you will be the death of me” he grabbed her hips and rocked her harder against his hardness.
“Oh Colin… Colin… Oh god…”
She was close to having her orgasm and god Colin wanted to give it to her but he wanted to feel her so he stopped his hips and Penelope looked at him.
“Why did you stop?” She looked at him angrily, Colin laughed at the sight, he had Penelope with her breasts free for him and she was upset for not letting her finish.
“Why, dear,” he said, approaching her breasts and giving each one a kiss. He listened to Penelope squirm. “If you're going to come, it will be in my mouth.” Colin lifted her from his lap and sat her on the couch.
Penelope looked at him curiously as he hiked up her skirts. “What are you doing?” She ask him blushing
Colin approached her lips and gave her a chaste kiss. “Do you trust me?” He ask her
"With my life," she responded. Colin didn't hesitate and gave her another kiss. He finished gathering her skirts and looked at her. "You didn't want me to stop, right? Well, dear, believe me, I won't." Colin smiled and got between her legs.
“Oh,” she moaned, trying to grab onto something. “Colin,” she moaned. Colin loved it when she screamed his name. “God, Colin, keep it up.” She grabbed his hair to hold him, and Colin knows she wouldn't walk away for the world. Penelope was delicious
Colin inserted a finger and began to touch her clitoris, Penelope writhed with pleasure.
“Colín… colin…” she moaned, wiggling in front of his face.
“I have you Pen, I have you” Colin continued licking and accelerated the pace of his fingers, he felt like Penelope was closing his insides so he sucked hard on her clitoris.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes” she moaned.
“Come Pen, come in my mouth” by the tone that was an order, 3 more thrusts of his fingers and Penelope came loudly screaming his name
She felt the grip she had on her head relax and he licked the liquids that came out of her, Colin was known for his appetite and now his favorite food would undoubtedly be her, he licked everything until Penelope told him to stop because he couldn't anymore, he left. between her legs to look at her and it was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen
Penelope, blushing because of her orgasm, smiled at him and he climbed up to be next to her and gave her a kiss, letting her try herself on the
They separated from that kiss and she looked at him “so…”
“So… you are going to do me the honor of marrying me, Penelope Featherington,” Colin said with a smile.
Penelope laughed and kissed him saying yes with that kiss, she knew that Genevieve was right now, Colin had feelings for her, and I need to get the jealousy out of him so he can open his eyes.